Newcastle Mercury Prize Fringe to showcase upcoming artists

Dozens of fringe events in the run-up to the Mercury Prize's second year in Newcastle will showcase upcoming musicians, organisers say.

The city will see live performances, listening parties, screenings, workshops and talks from 15 to 22 October, featuring artists from across north-east England.

A live edition of BBC Introducing will come from The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, headlined by Sunderland's Tom A. Smith.

Presenter Neave Farry, from Ferryhill, is curating and hosting a free acoustic event at the Grainger Market and said the "rest of England is waking up to the beautiful scene that we've got in the North East".

The prestigious music industry awards will return to Newcastle's Utilita Arena on 22 October, having never previously been held outside of London before 2025.

Sam Fender won the accolade and £25,000 prize last year in front of his home crowd .

Olivia Dean and Sir Paul McCartney's albums are among those nominated this year, in recognition of artistic achievement .

Grainger Market unplugged on 17 October will see acoustic sets from emerging artists throughout the day.

Farry said a recent refurbishment of the market to add a performance space "looks and sounds fantastic".

Polyvinyl are one of the bands performing and drummer Jamie Round said a "North East crowd is the best crowd you're going to get".

"You'll play the gig and everyone will be so supportive but then at the end you'll have people coming and talking to you, having a proper conversation," he said.

"It's different, you don't get that anywhere else."

Round said: "Not only is it a free event but it's also showcasing local art.

"And it's so valuable, especially right now when it's such a struggle for local arts to even be supported."

The fringe events are funded by Newcastle City Council and the BPI, which organises the Mercury Prize, and organised by Generator.

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